Disappearance suspect to talk at inquest

The prime suspect in the disappearance of a young Perth woman 12 years ago will be compelled to give evidence at an inquest into her suspected death.

Sarah Anne McMahon has not been seen since she went missing after leaving work in the upmarket suburb of Claremont in November 2000, with three police investigations over more than a decade failing to discover her whereabouts.

At the opening of the inquest into her suspected death, West Australian coroner Alastair Hope was told that police had long suspected the involvement of 57-year-old Donald Morey in her disappearance.

Morey, an acquaintance of Ms McMahon, was the last person to speak to the 20-year-old on the day she disappeared.

After telling a work colleague she was meeting a friend in Bassendean at 5.30pm, Ms McMahon failed to pick up her sister as scheduled at 8.30pm that evening.

She was reported missing, and fears grew after her car and personal belongings were found at Swan Districts Hospital days later.

After the initial police investigation, Operation Inez, drew a blank, a further investigation was launched after Morey was convicted of the attempted murder of a Perth prostitute in 2004. He had also been a person of interest in the death of another prostitute the previous year.

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Philip Urquhart, the lawyer assisting the coroner, said the police were again unable to substantiate enough evidence against Morey.

Morey has consistently denied any involvement in Ms McMahon's disappearance.

A cold case review of both investigations was launched last year, and Morey was again interviewed extensively.

In those interviews, Morey said he was still in contact with Ms McMahon, whom he claimed was living in Canada with her two children.

He told police she intended to hand herself to authorities in 14 months.

Detective Senior Sergeant Darryl Cox said extensive inquiries with Interpol had failed to turn up any evidence she was in North America, and police had no doubts she was dead.

Morey, who is currently serving 13 years in prison for the attempted murder, is set to be the last witness called to give evidence at the inquest.

Police requested the inquest after the cold-case review encountered several key witnesses who refused to co-operate.

Morey, his former boss at a trucking company and, most crucially, a witness who said she saw Ms McMahon's naked and bloodied body on Morey's bed on the night she disappeared will all be called to give evidence under special coronial powers.

Other witnesses are set to give evidence that they saw a bag owned by Morey containing rope, tape, knives, condoms and pornography.

They will also testify they heard Morey say, "She's gone, she's not coming back for Christmas", when he saw a TV appeal requesting information about Ms McMahon's whereabouts.